Majestic Friend, save each of us from taking part in public worship
yet not worshipping. Awaken the love and wonder within us, until our
cup is running over with a praise which flows deeper, and rises
higher, than anything else we experience. Through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen!

For the following Confession, a prayer for
open eyes and open hearts, would you respond when I lead you
with the following words:
With you,
loving God we seek refuge,
let us never
be put to shame.

Let us throw ourselves on
the abundant mercy of God. Join me in prayer:

On the timid who will not dare to be
strong, and on the strong who refuse to acknowledge their many
weaknesses: have mercy, saving God.
With you, loving God we seek refuge,
let us never
be put to shame.

On the foolish who cling to their
ignorance, and on the clever who act with arrogance and despise
the slow witted: have mercy saving God.
With you, loving God we seek refuge,
let us never
be put to shame.

On the half-hearted who ignore new
opportunities, and on the impatient who rush in where angels
fear to tread; have mercy: saving God.
With you, loving God we seek refuge,
let us never
be put to shame.

On the people with few gifts who waste what
they have, and on the very gifted who over-stretch themselves
with trying to do too much: have mercy, saving God.
With you, loving God we seek refuge,
let us never
be put to shame.

On the willful who cling to their favorite
sins, and on the over zealous who try to be more religious than
Jesus was: have mercy, saving God.
With you, loving God we seek refuge,
let us never
be put to shame.

Holy and loving God, we know that it is not your will that
anyone should destroy themselves, but that all should turn to
you and be saved. Have mercy on us and your erring children
everywhere. Bring us to a genuine repentance and restore us to
your good health. Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen!

Forgiveness

“God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but that the
world through him might be saved.” My Friends, now is the time
to put the past behind you. The word of Christ can be trusted to
forgive and reclaim you. Take up your salvation and live with
the peace and joy which nothing can take from you.
And all God’s
People say: Amen!

An opportunity for those who were campers,
volunteers, or on staff at our church camp to briefly share of
their experience.

Pastoral Prayer

(perhaps a prayer similar to this:)

Summer is almost
over and we wonder where the time went, Lord. We look at all the
plans we had, those that we accomplished and those that are now
to be put aside for another time. We look ahead to the busy year
of witness and service and wonder if we are ready to truly work
for you. The rest that we craved at the beginning of the summer
now seems to have slipped rapidly away, leaving us breathlessly
facing the upcoming autumn season. Help us, O Lord, feel your
strengthening presence with us. Help us place our trust in you,
knowing that you will empower and enable us to be in service. As
we have brought the names and concerns of those who are dear to
us to this service of prayer, seeking your healing,
compassionate love; let us also be willing to place our needs
and concerns before you. Give us a powerful sense of restoration
and reconciliation to you, for we ask these things in the name
of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

The 11th
chapter of the New Testament book of Hebrews is a quick study in
faith, running quickly through a gallery of God’s faithful
servants in the Hebrew portion of the Bible. This is followed in
chapter 12 by an invitation, a call from God to run the race of
faith, surrounded by all these witness. “Lift your drooping
hands,” it says, “and strengthen your weak knees,
and make straight paths for your feet”
(12:12-13). Why? Because,
unlike the children of Israel in Moses’ day, we “have not
come to a mountain that can be touched”
(12:18). Instead, to
borrow from this summer’s National Youth Conference, we look for
more than meets the eye. We “have come,” it says,
“to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem…” (12:22).

“Therefore,”
this invitation concludes, “since we are receiving a kingdom
that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by
which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and
awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire”
(12:28-29).

As you return your
offering just now, think about this invitation to live, not by
fear over all the bad things that might happen, but by faith in
an unshakable, living and active God… Ushers?

Benediction

May God’s liberating Sabbath rest set you
free this week
to more fully become the daughter or son of
Abraham
you were
created to be.
Like the prophet Jeremiah, however,
don’t bend yourself over with “I’m only”
thoughts.
You know:
“I’m only a boy.”
“I’m only a girl.”
“I’m only one person.”
“I’m only what little I think of myself.”
Instead, be set free in Christ
to straighten your back and
stand up by faith; so
that,
as you step into this coming week of work,
you will do so as one
who is called forth by God.
In Jesus, you are much more than meets the eye!
Be blessed.

(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)

Interested in Sunday School?Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit.
As you discover others, please let
us know.

International Lesson:Adult
Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement"
under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)